THE weather was the main winner on another rain-disrupted weekend of Premier Division action.

Receiving top billing had been the prospective clash between leaders Bedlington and pursuers Blue Flames.

The Terriers took a mere one-point lead into the virtual title-decider at Blue Flames Park.

However, with the elements again dictating proceedings, the sides were left to share the points and extend a nail-biting title race into the final three weeks.

The coming weekend’s round of matches see Bedlington playing host to bottom side Bomarsund, who failed to take the opportunity to leapfrog fellow strugglers Clara Vale in the only match to have survived the rain last weekend.

Bomar registered a meagre 89 all out after being put into bat, with Gary Bell (25) and Shaun Hudson (unbeaten on 24) being their only two men to reach double figures.

A day for ducks saw three of them in a fairly dismal scorecard for the basement outfit, Gary Dennis and David Cragg taking three wickets apiece in a comprehensive bowling performance.

The Cottagers had little trouble in rattling off the required runs off just 27 overs, losing only two wickets in the process.

Ross Sample hit five fours on his way to an unbeaten 37, with openers Robert Burns and Robert Tulip the only men to fall.

The resulting 30-point haul sees Bates Cottages overtaking Tillside into seventh place, with sides across the league hoping for better conditions for the final three rounds of the competition.

This weekend's schedule sees second-placed Blue Flames travelling to fourth-placed Berwick, while Warkworth in third are at home to Blagdon Park.

Clara Vale will try and haul themselves out of relegation trouble with a trip to Bates Cottages, the other fixtures being Alnmouth and Lesbury v Corbridge and Tillside v Stocksfield.